The olive branch for children IN

CANADA

When Deborah McCracken-Nangereke called home from Tanzania in 2005 to raise money for football (soccer) field goal posts, she quickly realized that this was a model that could be replicated to empower Tanzanians. Deborah knew Tanzanians were hard-working, resourceful and understood the challenges they faced. What they needed was help to raise money and organize resources effectively to respond to community needs. This was the genesis of The Olive Branch for Children (TOBFC) – a partnership between Tanzania and Canada.

Deborah’s first supporters were her parents. TOBFC was registered as a Canadian charity in 2005 and Ginette McCracken, Deborah’s mother, assumed the role of President. Deborah’s father, Wayne McCracken, was a trusted advisor who first instilled in Deborah a belief in the transformative effects of education. He was Deborah’s touchstone as she began to work with Tanzanian communities to implement education programs that disrupt the cycle of poverty and empower individuals and their families.

Support from Vaughan

Deborah grew up in the community of Woodbridge in Vaughan, Ontario. Located just north of Toronto, Vaughan has become the hub of TOBFC in Canada. Friends, neighbours, businesses, schools, unions, and faith groups have all rallied around TOBFC’s mission. Deborah was named Vaughan Civic Hero for Ward 2 in 2019, and the City of Vaughan’s Spirit of Generosity is the program sponsor for the TOBFC KICKIT Mobile Libraries program. TOBFC Montessori Academy and Kindergartens programs were first nurtured by The Montessori School in Kleinburg, with support spreading across the Toronto area to other schools such as Children’s Garden School.

Annual Events

TOBFC’s annual spring gala in Vaughan is a major event in the calendars of TOBFC supporters and remains an important fundraiser to support Tanzanian programs. With LiUNA! Local 183 as our Platinum sponsor, it is always a fun evening with great food, drinks, and lots of dancing.

Our annual jitney-style curling bonspiel takes place in Schomberg, Ontario in late fall, and up to 64 curlers can participate at this fun event. 2025 will be the 9th bonspiel where the curling community comes together to support TOBFC programs for vulnerable women and children.

Support from British Columbia

Support for TOBFC expanded from Vaughan to Vernon, British Columbia, Canada, where it grew organically through personal connections and a shared desire to engage in the work of TOBFC. Dr. Stan Eaman and Vera Isaac travelled to Tanzania in 2010 to volunteer with our organization. Drawing on their extensive experience in health care, they played a pivotal role in developing our Complete Community Care Team, with a particular focus on building the team’s capacity to address community mental health.

Stan and Vera became powerful advocates, recruiting others to support TOBFC. Among them were Ivan and Jinny Rhodes, whose contributions have left a powerful legacy. Ivan, a master carpenter, trained our Infrastructure Development team and was an essential part of constructing the Phons and Mary O’Mara Clinic. Meanwhile, Jinny mobilized the local community to rally behind our programs and worked directly with our Child and Youth Care teams, helping to strengthen these vital supports. Together, Stan, Vera, Ivan, and Jinny have built a strong network of supporters, hosting annual gatherings and nurturing a vibrant community in British Columbia that champions the work of TOBFC. Deborah McCracken-Nangereke and her family visit British Columbia each spring to connect with this dynamic and enduring community of supporters.

Canada’s support for TOBFC demonstrates the power of community and the incredible impacts that can be achieved through donations, strategic partnerships and volunteerism. TOBFC is a Canadian registered charity with no paid staff in Canada. The charity guides fundraising activities in Canada through dedicated volunteers and provides governance for TOBFC.

TOBFC supporters in Canada are key members of the TOBFC Global Family.